Top Eight: Paris Activities with Kids
A list many years in the making from when my two kids (boy and a girl) were very little until now (oldest in middle school!) While my site is not really child-focused, I do have a slight bit of insight as to what makes kids happy in this beautiful city. As the warmer months approach with spring and summer travelers descending on the city, I hope this list can serve as a little bit of inspiration to entertain everyone.
Some general tips:
~ less is more; most kids will be fascinated with the vibrancy of the city and all it has to offer. Overstimulation is a thing, though, and some might be more affected than others. No need to plan a million activities in one day or try and do too much on the day you arrive if you are flying from the West.
~ let the kids (if they’re reasonably old enough) offer suggestions or lean into their hobbies/likes.
~ book kid-specific guides for the bigger museums like the Louvre, if they’re under 8 or so as these individuals are amazing and can really enhance the experience for everyone and your visit can be free of whining!
~ don’t sleep on the pop-in small grocery stores everywhere like Mono’p (Monoprix’s little brother), Carrefour, and Franprix. The packaged sandwiches are great, mini salads, and an array of cold beverages, etc. to stave off the Hungry Hungry Hippos you have with you!
~ download and cling to your new best friend, the CITYMAPPER application on your phone - it is much better than Google maps in my humble opinion, as it has updated strike information and general helpful details for length of time walking from each stop, total time is accurate, and gives easy to read multiple transport options. I use it everyday living here for bus frequency, etc!
#1 - INVADERS
My favorite thing to do with the kids (or without!) is pick a little random quartier on the map and go hunting for Space Invaders that take the form of tiled street art on buildings from anonymous artist, Invader. There’s over 1500 in Paris alone and you “flash” them with an app you download for free on the App Store. I have discovered amazing little streets, seen new restaurants to bookmark for later, and stumbled upon fun parks that Google Maps just don’t highlight. We work in tandem with a separate app called the “Invader Map” which tells you where they all live - you can then keep track of them with color coded pins. Some of my friends hate this and think it’s “cheating” which is fair, but I treat it as an activity and a wandering connect-the-dots moment. The thrill is real, y’all!
There’s one little guy and one big one in this photo - sometimes they’re this close in proximity!
The official Flash Invaders app on the left, and the separate and $4.99 map app on the right. Completely worth it!
#2 - PICNIC AT INVALIDES
This lovely Left Bank spot is a favorite for us, even though it is a bit further away from the nearby and very popular Jardin du Luxembourg. It is gorgeous and scenic with wide expanses of grassy fields to wander and plop down for a leisurely, simple meal. Along the streets of Breteuil, Duquesne, and Estrées you will find this long area with the golden dome of Les Invalides in the backdrop. I love how residential and local this feels and is away from the chaos that Champs de Mars can be. There is great little playscape situation around the Saint Françoise Xavier church adjacent in case you need the kids to let off some climbing energy!
#3 - A RIVER CRUISE
This is always a recommendation for any visitor, even if you don’t have kids as you can see so much in one go and is inexpensive. But, I think especially when you have kids, this is a stellar way to take a walking break, get some river breeze going if it is hot, and generally occupy some time in the city. I have personally done the Bateaux-Mouches at Pont d’Alma and the Vedettes du Pont Neuf. Both are easy, have several options for food onboard, and smooth rides.
#4 - BUS RIDING
I am absolutely a bus queen in this city and will take it over the metro in many cases. Most of them are air conditioned now, there are quite a few routes to choose from, and the main reason - YOU CAN SEE ALL THE GOOD STUFF! I spot restaurants to try, new angles on buildings, and cool street style. The kids and I play the “animal game” on the bus where we accrue points based on how many dogs and cats we see on our journey. The bus is infinitely easier with a stroller or littles and often times more comfortable than the metro. The main drawbacks are sometimes timing and traffic (especially when raining or there are demonstrations in certain areas).
My favorite lines are in no order:
95 - a double-length “accordion” bus going North-South from down in 14th at Vanves (where the best flea market is!) all the way up to Porte de Montmartre in the 18th. It goes straight through the middle of Paris basically, and you see Saint Germain-des-Prés, the Louvre, Opéra, Saint-Lazare, etc.
69 - this runs sort of East-West from Champ de Mars in the 7th (Eiffel Tower) all the way through the middle of Paris to Gambetta in the 20th. You’ll see the 7th, the river, through the Marais, and the cool food areas of the 11th.
84 - this one goes from the Pantheon in the 5th all the way up to the nice Parisian suburb of Levallois. You can see Place de la Concorde, Madeleine, the fancy parts of the 8th, Parc Monceau, and Saint Lazare.
63 - I love this one that runs from Gare d’Lyon in the 12th to Porte de la Muette in the 16th. On weekends or public holidays, it will go even further out to Jardin d’Acclimatation where you can see this section of Bois de Boulogne, the theme park, and Fondation Louis Vuitton.
#5 - MUSÉE DE MODERNE
I love this museum conveniently located near Trocadéro across from the Eiffel Tower. Even if you think “modern” art isn’t your thing - you will pleasantly surprised. A large calm room downstairs houses Matisse’s giant installation, La Danse, and Daniel van Buren’s fun striped collage of canvases, for example. Upstairs, as you enter the museum on the left, is Raoul Dufy’s large scale installation called “The Electricity Fairy” created for the 1937 Universal Exposition. Kids and adults alike are obsessed with the iPad seek and find game they have concocted to accompany it and it is really so fun! The best part of this museum is that IT IS FREE! The permanent collections, which are quite extensive, as well as the mentioned thing above - all complimentary! It is also almost never crowded - the last time I went on a rainy school holiday in February, it was still chill.
#6 - TÊTE DES NUAGES
This local gem is a newer addition to the Paris landscape around the Grand Boulevards area at the top of the 2nd, on the border of the 9th. It is a 1500m arcade and game situation with tons of choices and with the option for birthday party reservations. You can load up a card with credits and away you go! You can also reserve “free play” slots in evenings ahead of time where you get unlimited playing for 25 euros from 8pm to 2am, so night owls rejoice! This is great for older kids, a rainy day activity, or just something different for kids and families who love all kinds of games.
#7 - JARDIN D’ACCLIMATATION
Opened in 1860, but acquired and renovated by LVMH in 2017, this beautiful area of attractions blends seamlessly with the natural beauty of this section of Bois de Boulogne. A short walk from the Sablons stop on metro line 1, there are rides, a petting zoo, and food kiosks scattered throughout. There is a splash pad and several playscapes in the back area that do not have an additional cost. I always highly recommend this to anyone coming with kids as it really can be such a lovely day to spend - much less expensive and more elevated than Disney! Wild peacocks roam the grounds and there are trampoline areas and plenty of walking paths, benches, and picnic areas. You can bring your own food in (no glass) and enjoy a picnic with a view of the Frank Gehry designed Fondation Louis Vuitton museum. It is also open year-round with still plenty to do in the winter. Do yourself a favor and book this into your itinerary if you are traveling to Paris with kids!
#8 - ICE CREAM + OBSTACLE COURSES ON THE SEINE
There is nothing my kids love more than a summer stroll along the river and grabbing an ice cream along the way to the obstacle course that is embedded on the stone wall just past Pont Alexander III! Such a relaxing way to enjoy the sights and vibes of the city and a great way to get some energy out after a long day maybe cooped up in museums, beating jet-lag, or anything in between. The above activity is on the left bank quai, but you can also grab ice cream at Berthillon on Isle-Saint-Louis and head over the right bank between Pont Saint Marie and Pont Sully for another obstacle course and even swings!
